DWI Articles and Summaries Posted on 2010/06/03 |

Reading the many DWI articles and summaries that are in newspapers and magazines shows that driving under the influence is a growing problem in the United States. Many states have enacted stronger DUI laws to prevent the problem from growing further and to help people understand the serious consequences of driving under the influence. What causes problems for many people is that they don't know the laws or don't understand how serious DUI is if they are arrested and convicted. Reading the many DWI articles and summaries available can help people to understand the consequences of driving under the influence and avoid being charged with a attorneys">criminal offense.

DWI Articles & Summaries Reviewing DUI

DUI is a attorneys">criminal offense in all 50 states in the U.S. It is often a misdemeanor offense, but can be charged as a felony if certain conditions are met. Several prior offenses can result in a felony charge in most states and some states have terms that outline aggravating factors that can result in a misdemeanor charge being elevated to a felony charge. Some of the most common aggravating factors are having an extremely high blood alcohol concentration level, driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle, or causing property damage or serious bodily injuries while driving under the influence. Many states have two ways in which a DUI case can be prosecuted. One of these theories is based on the physical impairment of the arrested individual. In this type of case, the prosecutor focuses on trying to prove that a defendant was too impaired to safely operate a vehicle at the time of their arrest. Testimony may come from police officers and focus on the defendant's appearance, performance of sobriety tests, driving behavior, and other factors that may show the defendant should not have been driving. The second theory is often known as the per se DUI theory. This is when the prosecutor will focus on the results of chemical testing done at the time of a defendant's arrest. If the test results show that the defendant's BAC exceeded the state's legal BAC limit, then the prosecutor can show that the defendant was guilty of DUI even if they did not appear to be impaired.

DWI Articles & Summaries Reviewing Administrative Penalties

In most states, you'll lose your driving privileges if you are arrested for driving under the influence, even if you are eventually found not guilty of the charge. Some states have an appeals process where you can appeal your suspension in writing and then get a hearing to determine the status of your driving privileges. If you don't have a qualified DUI lawyer to represent you during this hearing, you may lose out on the opportunity to get a temporary license that you can use until your trial date. This means you won't be able to get to work, drive yourself to medical and dental appointments, pick up your kids from school, or do any number of your normal daily activities. The DWI articles and summaries available show how valuable an attorney's representation and advice can be when you're trying to win back your driving privileges.

DWI Articles & Summaries Reviewing Criminal Penalties

Since DUI is a criminal offense, there is a range of criminal penalties available. In most states, these penalties include jail time, fines, court costs, alcohol and drug education, alcohol treatment, ignition interlock device installation, and probation. The sentencing will depend on a number of factors including your number of prior convictions, aggravating circumstances present in your case, and other circumstances. If you have a DUI attorney on your defense team, s/he can speak on your behalf prior to your sentencing and ask that the court be as lenient as possible. If you have accumulated several convictions, however, it is likely that you will be sentenced to the penalties allowed by law since you have broken the law several times.

DWI Articles & Summaries Reviewing Benefits of DUI Attorneys

Many DWI articles and summaries outline the benefits of working with an attorney who specializes in DUI defense. These benefits include better access to expert witnesses, more specialized knowledge of DUI law, and more experience defending people charged with DUI offenses. Working with a public defender or non-specialist attorney means you may not be getting the best possible defense. Choose to work with a DUI attorney and you'll have a better chance of winning your case and being able to move on with your life and continue to carry out your daily activities.